After a bit of sleep a simple fix presented itself... I have a working install of PCLinuxOS, why not use it's xorg.conf?
Here is what I did, hopefully it helps the next user that buys this laptop (xorg.conf file at the end of this post):
1) Create a win8 restore USB if you havn't already. Next, disable fastboot in windows 8 (google it!); then shut down, and boot to Bios / firmware..
2) press f2 at initial boot (acer logo) to enter EFI firmware / BIOS.. turn off safeboot, but keep EFI; also make sure your USB boot is above your HDD/SSD in boot priority; f10 to save & exit.
3) boot from ubuntu USB, select install; complete install to your liking. Reboot into your Ubuntu install.
4) After ubuntu boot the screen is black; turn up screen brightness with Fn+(right arrow). If not logged in, do so (..not guest session!); you will have wallpaper, but nothing else.
5) Press Ctl+Alt+T to open the terminal emulator since we don't have a graphical file manager; the rest of this process is simply copying a working xorg.conf file from another drive. Start by getting full root - type:
6) Plug in a USB with the xorg.conf file from the end of this post; the USB drive will mount automatically at /media/<your username>/<random-string> ..find the exact path:
(..replace the <bracketed> info with your details)
Code:
ls /media/
ls /media/<username>/
# ..should show the your USB drive as a randomly named folder; repeat to check contents until you find your file..
ls /media/<username>/<subdirectory-listed-above>
7) once you have found the the path to the file on your USB drive, copy the new xorg.conf file over your existing xorg.conf file:
Code:
cp /media/<username>/<subdirectory(s)>/xorg.conf /etc/X11/
8) confirm the copy worked by printing the contents of the installed xorg.conf file:
Code:
cat /etc/x11/xorg.conf
..this should spit out stuff that looks like the file contents posted at the end of this post! ;D
9) Next step is to log out and back in; since we don't have the usual onscreen stuff, log out by using Ctrl+Alt+Del.
10) Log back in; this time you should have a full working desktop (..you may still have to turn up the brightness to see it though ;D )
HERE is my working xorg.conf contents (download link):
Code:
# File generated by XFdrake (rev 262502)
# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the xorg.conf man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************
Section "ServerFlags"
Option "DontZap" "False" # disable <Ctrl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work
#DontZoom # disable <Ctrl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "monitor1"
VendorName "Generic"
ModelName "Flat Panel 1360x768"
HorizSync 31.5-48.0
VertRefresh 56.0-65.0
# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630
# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1368x768_120" 185.67 1368 1472 1624 1880 768 769 772 823 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1368x768_100" 151.73 1368 1464 1616 1864 768 769 772 814 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1368x768_85" 125.67 1368 1456 1600 1832 768 769 772 807 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1368x768_75" 110.19 1368 1456 1600 1832 768 769 772 802 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1368x768_60" 85.86 1368 1440 1584 1800 768 769 772 795 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1368x768_50" 69.92 1368 1424 1568 1768 768 769 772 791 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1360x765_120" 182.63 1360 1456 1608 1856 765 766 769 820 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1360x765_100" 149.22 1360 1456 1600 1840 765 766 769 811 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1360x765_85" 124.65 1360 1448 1592 1824 765 766 769 804 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1360x765_75" 108.34 1360 1440 1584 1808 765 766 769 799 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1360x765_60" 84.40 1360 1424 1568 1776 765 766 769 792 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1360x765_50" 69.34 1360 1416 1560 1760 765 766 769 788 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1280x720_120" 161.56 1280 1376 1512 1744 720 721 724 772 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1280x720_100" 131.85 1280 1368 1504 1728 720 721 724 763 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1280x720_85" 110.01 1280 1360 1496 1712 720 721 724 756 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1280x720_75" 95.65 1280 1352 1488 1696 720 721 724 752 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1280x720_60" 74.48 1280 1336 1472 1664 720 721 724 746 -HSync +Vsync
# modeline generated by gtf(1) [handled by XFdrake]
ModeLine "1280x720_50" 60.47 1280 1328 1456 1632 720 721 724 741 -HSync +Vsync
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "device1"
VendorName "Intel Corporation"
BoardName "Intel 810 and later"
Driver "intel"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "screen1"
Device "device1"
Monitor "monitor1"
DefaultColorDepth 24
Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1366x768" "1360x765" "1280x720"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1366x768" "1360x765" "1280x720"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1366x768" "1360x765" "1280x720"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1366x768" "1360x765" "1280x720"
EndSubsection
EndSection
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "layout1"
Screen "screen1"
EndSection
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